Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-08
BUILDING STONES.
The Large Variety and Fine Quality Found
in California.

in California.
The build;ng-stone industries of Cali
fornia are immense, both in quantity and
quality. The granite quarries of Penryn,
Pine and Rocklin, in Placer county, and
Folsom, in Sacramento county, are worked
extensively and with system. All the
granite used in Sacramento and San Fran
cisco comes from these quarries. The first
story of the State Capitol and the magnifi-
cent granite work OF the fence that incloses
the State Capitol grounds came from the
quarry at Folsom. The State, some years
ago, purchased that quarry, located a
branch prison there, and the convicts toll
In the quarries under the States charge.
VARIOUS OTHER KINDS OF STONE.
Around the northern end of the Bay of
San Francisco-at Napa, Petaluma Bridge
port and other places-are immense beds
of basalt of several different qualities
available for the construction of buildings
in the future but at present only used as
paving stones on the streets of San Fran
cisco and neghboring cities. Rhyolite is
found near Mokelumne Hill, in Calaverds
county, OF several different colors. 1t is
used, so far, only in the immediate neigh
borhood none of il having been shipped
Lake and Plumas counties each has many
varieties Of volcanic rocks, but they have
not been sufficiently investigated to de-
termine their value as material for con-
struction, On account of want of means
of transportation, it will probably be some
time before it is used 10 any extent except
locally.
The sandstones are also well represented,
both in color and texture, all around the
bay of San Francisco. At Armory Point.
just east of Benicia, the United States Gov
ernment has built large arsenal of light
brown sandstone, quarried on the spot
This is all that has been used of it, though
the color is handsome and the stone very
durable.
Angel Island, in the Bay of San Francis
co, now Government property, has fur
nished a blush sandstone, which was
used for the construction of the California
Bank and other buildings i, San Francis
co. Near Alameda, Livermore, Haywards
and number of other places in that Sec
tion quarrying is carried on in sandstones
of various shades of light-brown and blue,
mostly for the San Francisco market. At
San Jose, near the southern end of the bay,
is quarry of light-brown sandstone of sew
eral degrees of coarse1ess, unlimited in ex-
tent, and of very even color. 1t is used in
the trimmings of the new City Hall in San
Francisco, and for the four dation and
trimmings of the State Normal School
building at San Jose. 1t is almost pure
silica, and stands fire so well that it is used
for lining blast furnaces and for cupolas
forges, etc, 1t cuts very easily, when first
quarried, into either ornamental, statuary
or faced stone, and grows very hard on ex-
posureio the weather.
WEALTH OF MARBLE.
Marble is found in many portions of the
State. A drab marble quarry has been
worked at Colfax, not with profit, how
ever, the material from which is extensive
ly used for mantels, fireplaces, floor tiles,
etc. At Suisun small quarry was fourd
of the so-called California onyx the
most beautiful of all the marbles Another
quarry of this kind of marble is now be-
ing worked in San Luis Obispo county,
from which counters for stores, mantels,
tireplaces, statuary, vases, table tops, etc.,
are manufactured. The quarry has not
been opened long, and, being distant from
market, it is not worked with that profit
which will come to it ultimately In Kern
county marbles of many shades are found
AT Indian Diggings, in Ell Dorado county,
a superior white marble streaked with
blue, is found in large quarTies. 1t is ex-
tensively used for gravestones and monu-
ments.
At Swansea in Inyo county, the entire
foothills are composed of marble Israel
Luce a we'll known marble worker of Sac
ramento, made location there about
year ago and considers his quarry a valu-
able property. The Inyo Independent of
January %, 1886, says: Everyone IN Inyo
county is interested in the success of the
marble works at Swansea. The marble
recently shipped to San Francisco was sub
iect TO all the usual tests to establish its
character. 1t was proven beyond all doubt
to be of the finest grain, and will take
beautiful polish. All other marble yet
found in Tie State has the defect that ii will
not cope well; that is. it will not split
square with a mallet and chisel, but will
have jagged or beveled edge. The Swan
sea marble copes straight and square
ALWAYS. The importance Of our marble
works may be Judged from the following
circumstance The leading importers of
Italian marble in San Francisco are
Music & Co. Mr.. Music has written to his
correspondents in Italy not to ship any
more marble to San Francisco as quite as
good an article can be had from Inyo
county at much less cost. The marble al
ready taken out at Swansea was found
close 10 lHS surface, anu SOine Oh IL nau
little weather stain more of it had slight
vapor stain. This defect is certainly only
local and accidental, and will entirely dis
appear when greater depth is gained. Al
ready there are many orders for marble
but none will be shipped till the quarry is
opened more extensively, and till every
trace of stain has disappeared and pure
white marble can be shipped. Mr. Luce is
very confident that few weeks work will
accomplish this result. He is also certain
that the market for the marble will be so
extensive that in very few years town
of at least five hundred inhabitants will
grow up at the quarry. The supply is so
extensive as to insure plenty of marble for
hundreds of years to come